Cannabis and Hemp Expo coming to Alberta this spring

Coming to Edmonton and Calgary, the expo will attract leading cannabis and hemp businesses from Canada and the world

For the first time, Lift and Canwest Productions are partnering to bring the Cannabis and Hemp Expo to multiple cities in Alberta this year.

We’re co-hosting the full two-day cannabis consumer trade in Edmonton on April 1 and 2, and in Calgary on May 6 and 7. Each event will attract a variety of consumers and leading businesses from Canada and the world. Vendors will include a diverse array of licensed producers, dispensaries, clinics, patient advocacy groups, head shops, growing equipment companies, and extract and derivative companies. Even Scentsy, a mainstream scented wax and candle company, is participating as a vendor, demonstrating the wide reach and burgeoning opportunity in the cannabis industry in Canada. The Cannabis and Hemp Expo provides opportunities for information exchange, networking and business development. It also offers education for the general public, industry and patients.

Alternative resources like hemp are underused in our current market, and including hemp and cannabis in the same conference offers a unique opportunity to examine how hemp will be integrated in the burgeoning cannabis economy, and how these two plants can be produced sustainably. The Cannabis and Hemp Expo provides cannabis and hemp industry members a platform to discuss and assess mutual needs, like equipment, processing machinery, and other technology.

“This is our first foray into Alberta, and we're excited to partner with Canwest Production to bring the Lift Expo experience to more Canadians across the country,” explains Lift’s CEO, Matei Olaru. “With upcoming changes in legislation, we’re showcasing the opportunities across the developing industry by including representatives from all areas of cannabis and hemp businesses, from grow room equipment, to seed suppliers, to nutrient manufacturers, producers, farmers, and more. We're excited to host industry thought leaders who are shaping the future of the cannabis landscape.”

The Cannabis and Hemp Expo comes at an important time in Alberta, as both Calgary and Edmonton city councils are working with various groups, such as Alberta Public Health and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, to prepare for upcoming cannabis legalization. Initiatives include examining other jurisdictions for best practices and reporting on considerations for legalization. Many local organizations support legalization, and have been participating in the conversation around its challenges, such as updating workplace policies around drug use.

We’ve arranged a full schedule of workshops and speakers throughout the conferences. Attendees can take in cannabis cooking demos by Cannaclinic’s Crystal the Weed Chef, or listen to Alberta Tech’s Jan Slaski speak on industrial hemp. Other speakers include Tilray’s Philippe Lucas on current research, and Land Faulty creative agency’s Joshua Kupsch on design and branding in the cannabis industry.

Find advance tickets online for $10: purchase by March 30 for Edmonton and by May 5 for Calgary. Tickets for both events are $15 at the door.